Signal device.



G. J. SEISS.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26,1914. 1,1 12,566.,

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

2 S H BETS--SHEET l.

WITNESSES:

G. J. SEISS.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED amme, 1914.

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INVENTOR Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2 GEORGE J. SEISS, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

Speeicaton of Letters Patent.

Patenten oet. e, 1914.

Application filed January 26, 1,914. Serial No. 814,398.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE J. Sniss, a citizen of the United States, and a. resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Signal Device; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to signal devices and particularly to mechanically operated devices of this character for use on automobiles, motorcycles, etc., but is not restricted to such use as it may be used in any connection for which it is adapted or appropriate.

The object of my invention is the provision of an improved mechanically operated signal device, as distinguished from the electrical type, which is simple in its construction, easy and eiiicient in its operation, and which emits a sound similar to that of electric horns.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while, in its `broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, in which,-

Figures 1 and 2 are diilerent side eleva,-

- tions of a horn or signal device embodying the invention, with portions broken away. Fig. 3 is an end view thereof, with parts broken away. Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view thereof with a portion in section on the line fr, a: in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a central section of the disk vibrating wheel. Fig. (i is a cage blank for securing a wheel enacting roller to the diaphragm of the horn, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a diaphragm with a roller form of wheel contact secured thereto, andwith a part of the diaphragm broken away.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a shell forming the body portion of the. signal device, and 2 the horn member of the device which is carried at the open end of the shell 1 and has its interior separated from the interior of the shell by a diaphragm 3 of metal or other suitable sound emitting material. The inner or adjacent ends of the parts l and 2 coperate, in the present instance, to form an annular interior recess, as shown at 4, within which the marginal edge portion of the diaphragm 3 and a ring 5, preferably of metal, are disposed, said diaphragm and ring being secured together in side abutting relation, and the casing 1 and horn 2 being secured thereto, preferably in a removable manner, by screws 6.

The ring 5 has arms 7 and 8l projecting in diametrically opposed relation transversely thereof into the shell 1, or in opposed relation to the diaphragm 3, and each is provided, in the present instance, with a suitable end thrust bearing 9 against which the respective ends of a shaft 10 has conical end thrust contact. One of the bearings 9 lis preferably axially adjustable relative to its carrying arm, as shown. The shaft 1() carries a wheel 11, which is disposed in position for radially protruding members 12 on its periphery to strike against a contact member 13 on the adjacent side of the diaphragm 3 centrally thereof when the wheel is rotated, thus causing a consequent sound emitting Vibration of the diaphragm. The members 12 of the wheel are imounted for inward and out-l preferably of ball form to enable it to ro.-

tate within its socket, as it passes the diaphragm member 13 in contact therewith. The outer ends of the sockets are slightly contracted to retain the members 12 therein. It is evident that a rotating of the wheel 1-1 will cause an outward throwing of the striking members 12 in their respective sockets due to centrifugal action so thatv such members during a rotating of the wheel normally stand with their outer portions protruding from the wheel periphery in striking relation to the .member 13, as indicated by the lower members in 5. This action of the members 12 permits an automatic adjustment thereof to compensate for wear so that they will always strike the member' 13 when the wheel is being rotated, thus obviating the necessity of frequently adusting the rotating member relative to the diaphragm to compensate for wear of the parts, as is common in the types of signal devices of this `class heretofore used. The members 12 are preferably in the form of steel balls, but may be of other form and material without departing from the spirit of the invention. r1`he soeilrets 14 are preferably inclined from radial planes in a direction opposed to the direction of striking drotation of the wheel 11, as shown in FU. 5, so that the members 12 when the wheel is rotated will .have a greater striking force against the diaphragm member' 123 than if the sockets were disposed in true radial relation, due to the wall 1li of each socket opposing the striking force of the diaphragm member 13 against the member l2. 1t is found in practice that by arranging the sockets 14C in this manner the noise emitted from the instrument upon an operation of the same is much harsher and stronger than than if the sockets 11i are radially disposed or the wheel shown is rotated in the opposite direction from that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5.

The contact member .13 on the diaphragm may be of numerous forms.y 1n Fig. 1 it is shown as comprising a ball, preferably of steel, which is carried for free rotary movements relative to the diaphragm by a cage or holder part 15 that is lixedly secured to the center of the diaphragm in Fie'. 7 the contact member, which is designzted 13', is in the form of a roller, preferably of metal, which is carried for -free rotary movements relative tothe diaphragm 3 by a catch member lli. This cage is shown in blank form in F ig. G and comprises a substantially rectangular member, which is intended to be looped in U-form to rotatably receive the contact member 1/ and to have it longitudinal side edges bear against the side of the diaphragm, as shown in Fig. 7. The contact member is exposed to the striking wheel 11 through an opening 17 in the cage, and the roller is prevented from lengthwise movement within the cage by ears 18, which are bent inward to close the ends of the cage. Prongs 1f) are provided at the ends oi the side edges of the cage for proj ecting through registering openings in the diaphragm 3 and clenching on the opposite side of the diaphragm, as shown. The mounting of the contact members 13, 13, as the case may be, to the diaphragm in a manner to permit free, rotation thereof, permits such members to rota te as the striking members Yl2 of the wheel l1 move past the same in contact therewith, thus preventing' undue wear on the parts and prolonging' the life thereof.

The means employed, in the present instance, i'or rotating the shaft 1'0 and wheel 1l carried thereby, consists in mounting a gear 2O on the shaft l() in mesh with a larger gear il on a short shaft which shaft has an end thrust bearing' at one end in a bearing member 23, which is adjustably carried by the arm 7, and has its oppoimanes site end in lend thrust Contact with an arm 24,'which projects transversely from the arm 7. The shaft 22 also carries a small gear 25 with which a drive gear 26 of the crown type meshes, said gear being mounted on a short shaft 27, which `is journaled at its ends in suitable end thrust bearings provided in the respective end portions of the arms' 7 and .24, the free end portion of the arm 7 being laterally bent in substantial parallelism with the arm 24 for such purpose. Une of the bearings for the shaft 27 is adjustable, as indicated at 28. A ratchetwheel 29 is fixed to the gear 26 and is engaged in proper driving direction by a pawl- '50 that is pivotaily carried, as at 31, by'an operating lever 32. The nose of the pawl 3() yieldingly held in engagement with the ratchet-wheel by a spring B3, which connects the pawl to a portion of the lever. ihe lever 32 has its inner end removably fuicrumed to a stud 34 on the arm 7 thenc'e extends outwardly over the shaft 27 at the outer side ofthe pawl 29, being provided with a notch 35 for receiving said shaft, and then extends outward through a registering segmental slot 3G in the shell 1. The outer end of the lever 82, after extending through the slot 3G preferably projects upward and is provided at its end with a pressure knob 37 to facilitate a downward pushing of the lever in operating thev device. The lever is normally held at the upper end of its stroke by a coiled contraction spring 38, which connects the lever to a part of the shell l, as at 259.

it will be understod that the mechanism employed for imparting rotation to the striking wheel and also the other parts of the device y, maybe varied within a broad range without departing from the spirit. of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, What lv claim as gnew, and desire to secure by Letters latent, is,- A

l. ln a device of the character described, the combination of a diaphragm, a rotatable member having a peripheral socket inclined in vthe plane of rotation of said member, the smaller angle between said socket and the wheel periphery being in advance of the larger angle in the direction of rotation of the member, and a striker part mounted within the socket for limited outward and inward movements therein and intended to have tapping contact with the diaphragm as the member is rotated.

1n a device of the character described, a diaphragm, a rotatable member having a plurality of peripheral sockets, striker parts ioesely mounted in said sockets for limited inward and outward movements therein and remaining at the limit of their outward movements during a rota-tion of the member, due to centrifugal action, with their outer sides projecting from the member in position to have striking contact with said iaphragm, said sockets being inclined in the plane of rotation of the striking parts and in a direction opposed to the intended direction of rotation of the member Whereby the smaller angle between each socket and the member periphery is disposed in advance of the socket relative to the direction of intended rotation of the member.

3. In a device of the character described, a diaphragm having a protuberant striking part, a rotatable member having a plurality of sockets arranged yin ,circumferentially alined relation around the peripheral portion of said member, said sockets being restricted at their outer ends and inclined in the plane of rotation of the member with the small angle between each socket and the member periphery disposed in advance 'of the socket relative to the direction of rotation of the member, a ball located in each socket for free longitudinal movements therein and when at the limit of its outward movement in the socket having its outer side projecting from the periphery of the member in position to strike the protuberant part of the diaphragm, the striking thrust of each ball being opposed by the socket side wall which stands at an obtuse angle to the member periphery.

4. In a device of the character described, a rotatable diaphragm coacting member having a peripheral socket inclined in a direction opposed to the direction of intended rotation of the member, a striking part mounted within the socket for limited inward and outward movements therein, and means for rotating the member.

5. In a device of the character described, a diaphragm, a roller holding cage carried by said diaphragm and comprising a looped member having an opening in its looped por tion and having prongs projected through the diaphragm and clenched at the opposite side thereof, and also having ears closing the end-portions of the loop, a roller rotatably carried Within said cage with a portion exposed through said opening, and rotatable means having peripherally disposed roller striking parts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signedk my name to this specification in the presene of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE J. SEISS. itnesses S. T. KLo'rz, F. E. AUL. 

